Vietnam has so far this year exported 4.98 million tonnes of rice worth 2.36 billion USD, up 11.14 percent in volume and 22 percent value over the same period last year, said the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Vietnam Food Association (Vietfood) is expected to export 7 million tonnes of rice this year.

This year’s rice output is likely to reach 41.6 million tonnes, 1.52 million tonnes higher than last year.

As from October 1 this year, rice exporters need certificates from the Ministry of Industry and Trade in order to export. Currently, businesses are allowed to export rice without having to adhere to industry regulations.

Vietfood has asked rice exporters, who met MoIT storage and husking requirements (regulated by Decree ND109/2010/ND-CP issued in November last year), to register early in order to meet the MoIT deadline.

Under Decree ND109/2010/ND-CP, rice exporters are required to have a storage capacity of at least 5,000 tonnes and husking facilities with an output of at least 10 tonnes per hour.

Storage and husking facilities have to be located in cities and provinces home to rice granaries or international ports to serve rice exports./.